Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Turin born voice actor Glauco Onorato died today December 31st of a serious disease. He was 73 years old. Onorato died at Saint Camillo's Hospital in Rome. He was the Italian voice of actors such as Bud Spencer, Charles Bronson, and Arnold Shwarzenegger in “Terminator”. He worked on several comedies of Eduardo De Filippo in the decade of the '60s. Onorato also appeared in several films and soap opears over the years. His last film appearance was in the 2008 film “Chi nasce tondo” as Padre Ignazio.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Born Russell Irving Tamblyn on December 30, 1934 in Los Angeles, California he is the son of actors Eddie Tamblyn and Sally Triplett. He is the older brother of musician Larry Tamblyn of the Standells. Russ was discovered at the age of ten by actor Lloyd Bridges and made his first film appearance in the 1948 film “The Boy with Green Hair” he then made appearances in several small roles in 1950s films. He found stardom in the 1961 film “West Side Story” as Riff the leader of the Jets gang. He has found steady work in films and television ever since. Among his films was one Eurowestern “Son of a Gunfigher” (1965) as Johnny Ketchum. Russ is married to singer, composer Bonnie Murray Tambly and the father of actress Amber Tamblyn. Today we celebrate Russ Tamblyn's 75th birthday.

Adventure in the Klondike about a man and his Alsatian sled dog. After being kidnapped from his California home, Alsatian dog Buck is bought by John Thornton for the mail run, and to become the latter's close companion through many adventures together. Despite being devoted to Thornton, Buck also feels the call of the wild and runs with a wolf pack, mating with one of the pack. Buck returns to Thornton but, upon the latter's death at the hands of Indians when gold prospecting, the dog returns to run wild with the pack, becoming a creature of legend to the Indians.

Born Camillo Bazzoni on December 29, 1934 in Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy. He is the younger brother of director, screenwriter, Luigi Bazzzoni. Camillo became a director, screenwriter and cinematographer in the Italian film industry working on over 40 films. Most of his films were dramas and a few in the adventure genre. He was a cinematographer on “A Man, His Pride, a Vengeance” (1968), which is often mistaken for a Eurowestern while the action actually takes place in Spain. He directed “A Longe Ride from Hell” (1968) with Steve Reeves under the pseudonym Alex Burks. Camillo was active until 2000 when he retired. Today we celebrate Camillo Bazzoni's 75th birthday.

Alfred Adolf Vohrer was born on December 29, 1914 in Stuttgart, Germany

His vocation was to become an actor but after losing his arm in World War II he put his knowledge of film to use becoming an assistant director for UFA. In 1949 he became a dubbing director and in 1961 he directed his first film “Die Toten Augen des London” (aka Dead Eyes of London) which became very successful. He would go on to direct over fifty films. Among them were three German Winnetou westerns starring Pierre Brice; “Frontier Hellcat” (1964) with Elke Sommer, “Flaming Frontier” (1965) with Stewart Granger and “Thunder at the Border” (1966) with Rod Cameron. Later in his career Vohrer would direct erotic comedies, crime films and then turn to television towards the end of his career. Alfred died of heart failure on February 3, 1986 in Munich, Germany. Today we remember him on what would have been his 95th birthday.

Monday, December 28, 2009

The Flagstone railroad station (Estacion La Calahorra-Ferreira) is located on route GR-61103 about 3 – 4 miles off of the A-92 Expressway. Nothing is left of the “Once Upon a Time in the West station but the depot shown on the opposite side of the tracks was used in such films as “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and “My Name is Nobody” “The Five Man Army”.

For a more detailed view of this site and other Spaghetti Western locations please visit my friend Yoshi “Garring” Yasuda’s excellent website: http://garringo.cool.ne.jp/

Attracted by the life of a cowboy Calino arrives in the Far West. The cowboys show him how to make and throw a lasso, how to use a gun, how to rope a cow and ride a wild horse. When Calino begins to practice these things it becomes a disaster, and when he tries to rides a horse, it becomes even more so. Quickly Calino decides a cowboys life is not for him and returns to his normal life.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Giulio Maria Gastone Stefano Bosetti was born on December 26, 1930 in Bergamo Lombardy, Italy. He spent most of his acting career on the stage as both an actor and director. He occassionally appeared in films and made his only Eurowestern as Captain Gomez in the 1963 film “The Sign of Zorro". Giulio was active in film since his screen appearance in “Morgan the Pirate (1960) until his final appearance in “Il divo” (2008) in between he made over 30 film and TV appearances. He died on December 24th in Berceto, Italy two days short of his 80th birthday.

Rolf Olsen was born on December 16, 1919 in Vienna Austria he became an actor, sometimes credited as Emerson Fox, who appeared in over 60 films between 1949 and 1990. He directed some 33 films between 1947 and 1990 among them the early German westerns “The Last Ride to Santa Cruz” (1963), starring Mario Adorf, Klaus Kinski and Marianne Koch and in which he also appeared as an actor, “Legend of a Gunfighter” (1964) staarring Thomas Fritsch, and his co-screenwriting credit for “Blood at Sundown” (1966) starring Anthony Steffen and Gianni Garko. Rolf was married to actress Ilse Peternell from 1958 until his death by cancer on April 3, 1998 in Stramberger, Austria. Today we remember Rolf Olsen on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Richard Weedt Widmark was born on December 26, 1914 in Sunrise, Minnesota. He grew up in Illinois and attended Lake Forest College where he studied acting. He made his debut on radio in 1938 on “Aunt Jenny's Real Life Stories”. In 1941 he was starring in his own daily radio show “Front Page Farrell” about a newspaper reporter. He then went onto Broadway in 1943 appearing in “Kiss and Tell”. Because of a perforated eardrum he was exempt from serving in the Armed Forces during World War II. In 1947 he made his screen debut in “Kiss of Death” and was nominated for an Academy Award. Widmark would go on to become one of the biggest names and respected actors in Hollywood, appearing in such films as “Night in the City” (1950), “The Alamo” (1960), “Judgment at Nuremberg (1961), “How the West Was Won” (1962), “Cheyenne Autumn” (1964), “Murder on the Orient Express” (1974) to name a few. Among his more than 60 films was one Eurowestern “A Talent for Loving” (aka Gun Crazy) (1969) as Major William Patten. Richard Widmark died on March 24, 2008 as a result of a fall. We remember Richard Widmark today on what would have been his 95th birthday.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Armando Calvo Pascual Lespier wa born on December 25, 1919 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was the son of Spanish actor Juan Calvo and Puerto Rican Lespier. He was the brother of actor Manolo Calvo. Armando began working in the theater at 5 years of age and made his film debut in 1934. In 1945 he settled in Mexico, working in films until the '60s when he returned to filmmaking in Spain. During this time he made eleven Eurowesterns starting with “The Sign of Zorro” in 1960 and ending with “A Fistful of Lead” in 1970. In between he appeared in “A Coffin for the Sheriff”, “Ringo's Big Night”, “Django Does Not Forgive”, “Ringo the Face of Revenge”, “Two Crosses at Danger Pass”, “Go for Broke”, “Killer, Adios”, “A Pistol for 100 Coffins” and “Ringo, the Lone Rider”. In the early '70s he returned to Mexico, working in television, theater and film. The last years of his life were spent living confined in a hotel and spent his time writing and painting. He died on July 6 1996 in Mexico City of heart failure at 76 years old. The name of this extraordinary first actor is written in golden letters in the history of film, television and theater and Mexican Spanish. We celebrate today what would have been Armando Calvo's 90th birthday.

Born Fernand Maurice Noël Mertens on December 25, 1905 in Brussels, Belgium, he was known as Fernad Gravet and Fernand Gravey to American movie-goers. He was the son of silent film actor Georges Mertens and actress Fernande Dépernay. He started acting at age five and was educated in England so he could speak French and English fluently.During World War I he served in the British Merchant Marine.He made his first film appearance in 1913 and appeared in his first American films in the late '30s with “The King and the Chorus Girl” (1937). He signed a contract with M-G-M and made several more films before returning to France just before World War II and fought in the French Secret Army and the Foreign Legion. He returned a war hero and appeared in French films during the 1950s. In the '60s he appeared in several English speaking films including “How to Steal a Million” and the Eurowestern “Guns for San Sebastian”. Gravey died on November 2, 1970 in Paris. Today we celebrate what would have been Fernand Gravey's 105th birthday.

After the Civil War two Union soldiers, California and Willy Preston make their way home but Willy is killed. California takes his friend’s body home and is welcomed like a son. When Willy’s sister is kidnapped he sets out to bring her home

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Brett Halsey's film career is comprised of an amazing body of work: big-budget Hollywood A pictures like All I Desire; cult JD movies that include Hot Rod Rumble and High School Hellcats; classic horror/sci-fi flicks Return of the Fly and The Atomic Submarine; numerous Spaghetti Western titles including Kill Johnny Ringo and Today We Kill...Tomorrow We Die; a series of Eurospy thrillers, notably Espionage in Lisbon and Spy in Your Eye; films with Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci; an impressive resume of television appearances including the series Follow the Sun and the soap opera General Hospital. He has also authored several novels and screenplays and stepped behind the camera to take on directing and producing.

But it will be his film roles that will define this consumate working actor. In his best roles, Halsey transcends the mechanics of screen acting - focus on character, concentration on serving the script, good interpretation of dialogue, clear delivery, lithe physical movement, mobility of facial expression - principally because the screen is Halsey's natural home.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

PARIS (AP) France's top rocker and entertainment icon Johnny Hallyday has left a Los Angeles hospital after riveting France for some two weeks of hospitalization for back surgery.

Hallyday's press agency says the 66-year-old star left Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on Wednesday, in time to join his wife and two daughters for Christmas at their Los Angeles home. The 96b agency says he must continue "indispensable medical treatment."

Hallyday was hospitalized after lingering pain from Nov. 26 surgery in Paris for a herniated disk. An infection was discovered.

Hallyday was forced to cancel the final leg of a tour billed as his farewell. France feared for Hallyday, and even President Nicolas Sarkozy discussed Hallyday's health during an EU summit news conference.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Guido De Angelis was born on December 22, 1944 in Rocca di Papa near Rome, Italy Along with his younger brother Maurizio they began working at RCA in Rome as arrangers in 1963 after successfully publishing an LP. This led to a successful career in film composing of which they have scored more than a dozen Eurowesterns, from “Trinity is Still My Name” (1971), “Zorro” (1974), “Keoma” (1975) to “A Man Called Blade”. To avoid over saturating the market with their musical talents in the 1960s they marketed themselves under different names including Oliver Onions, Dilly Dilly, The Black Stones, Canary Jones, Donald & Olimpio and Juniper to name a few. Guido and Maurizio are both still active today and continue to work together as a team and also pursue individual efforts. Today we celebrate Guido DeAngelis' 65th birthday.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Franco Micallizi was born in Rome, Italy on December 21, 1939. He's mostly remembered for his crime film compositions but he first found success for his 1970 score for “They Call Me Trinity”. In the 1980's he created The Family Micalizzi orchestra which features his son Christian. He has continued to work with Terence Hill and Bud Spencer on several scores for their films. In 2003 he was elected to the board of SIAE and found great success with his score for “L'ultima neve di primavera”. Today we celebrate Franco Micalizzi's 70th birthday.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Most people already know that 2010 will be a huge year for video games, with several high profile releases across multiple consoles. Just make sure that you add Red Dead Redemption to your list of must haves. Rockstar will take a break from its urban-themed Grand Theft Auto games and explore the Wild West, where outlaws deal their own brand of justice. During the course of this ambitious and beautiful adventure, you'll wander across prairies, pass through ghost towns and plenty of other locales around the frontier, while shooting varmints and wild animals.

The game takes place in the year 1908, 50 years after its prequel, Red Dead Revolver. You play as John Marston, a reformed outlaw working for the Bureau of Investigation, with a mission to send criminals a deadly message from the government. It's a 3-D open world game, similar to Grand Theft Auto IV, except you'll visit the frontier, Great Plains and Mexico. This also means using equipment from the time period (no rocket launchers), such as pistols, a shotgun, knives and TNT, as well as a Gatling gun, the kind you have to crank.

Although you'll be able to go anywhere and presumably kill almost anyone, Red Dead Redemption has a series of missions that'll help move the story forward. This includes rescuing one of Martson's friends, Bonnie, from a group of lowlifes by shooting your way through a ghost town. Later, you'll protect a train from bandits, blasting them while on horseback (more on that in a bit) and leaping onto the train.This wouldn't be a Western, of course, without horses, and Red Dead Redemption has numerous stallions to ride, complete with health meters. Each horse supposedly has unique abilities, and there's a difference between stealing a trained horse from someone versus taming a wild one. Not only will they help you cover great distances (the game also includes trains and carriages), but you'll also be able to shoot while riding, making use of the game's Dead Eye system, bullet time that slows the action down, allowing you to better dispose of your enemies. That'll prove useful in gunfights and against the game's various animals, a list that includes buzzards, snake, wolves and cougars, among other critters.

Much like the iPhone game, Oregon Trail, you'll be able to help or ignore non-player characters you meet along the way. For instance, if you see a man attacked by coyotes, you can choose to blast the animals or let the guy suffer. Just be careful. A broken down stagecoach may be an ambush waiting to happen.Since the game has a day/night cycle (as well as a persistent world), folks will go about their business. A saloon will be dead in the morning, but out of control at night. You can trade with people in different towns, acquiring supplies in exchange for animal skins and other goods. You can even do a little gambling, throwing down a few poker hands to win big. It remains to be seen, though, if sore losers will challenge you to duels.

Thus far, Red Dead Redemption looks gorgeous, on par with Grand Theft Auto IV. The draw distance stretches for miles, and the various towns and characters sport impressive detail. The tattered clothes, dusty environments and old buildings scream HBO's Deadwood. We just hope everyone uses the show's colorful language.Regardless, we can't wait to experience everything this game has to offer. Rockstar proved that it knows how to create sprawling open world adventures, and Red Dead Redemption should be a welcome addition to the company's outstanding portfolio. Saddle up and load your six-shooter when it debuts April 27th. - Chris Buffa

Jimmie F. Skaggs was born on December 20, 1944 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Moving to Ohio when a young and got his start in acting appearing in school plays. He graduated from Elyria High School in 1963 and then attended The American Academy of Dramaitc Arts in Manhattan, New York where he graduated in 1970. He appeared in an episode of TV's “Best Friends in 1981 and then went on to appear in over 70 films and TV appearances. He appeared in two Euro westerns the Sci-Fi films “Oblivion” and “Oblivion 2: Backlash” filmed in Romania in 1994 and directed by Sam Irvin. Jimmie died of lung cancer on July 6, 2004 Los Angeles, California. Today we celebrate what would have been Jimmie F. Skaggs 65th birthday.

Renzo Bigatti was born on December 20, 1929 in Milan, Italy. Renzo was the adopted son of actress Kiki Palmer. He appeared in over 65 films during his career starting in TV in 1957 with an appearance in “L'avaro” directed by Vittorio Cottafavi. His first film appearance was in the Eurowestern “Un dollaro di fifa” (1960) directed by Giorgio Simonelli and starring Walter Chiari and Ugo Tognazzi. Palmer would go on to appear in six more Eurowesterns from “Calvalca e uccidi” (aka “Brandy”) (1964) starring Alex Nicol and directed by Mario Caiano and Jose Luis Borau to “Zanna Bianca alla riscossa” in 1974 directed by Tonino Ricci and starring Maurizio Merli. Renzo sometimes was credited under the pseudonyms Lawrence Palmer and Lorenzo Palmer. Renzo Palmer died of cancer on June 4, 1988 in Milan, Italy. Today we celbrate what would have been his 80th birthday.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Born Edmund Anthony Cutlar Purdom on December 19, 1924 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England. After attending St. Ignatius College he began his acting carrer as a stage actor in 1945, appearing in such prodcutions as “Romeo and Juliet” and Molière's “The Imaginary Invalid”. His stage appearances and good looks caught the attention of Hollywood where he was cast in the leading role of the musical “The Student Prince (1954) opposite Ann Blyth. He had replaced Mario Lanza who had a dispute with the director. Purdom lip-synched the songs to Lanza's voice. He is best remembered for his leading role in “The Egyptian” (1954) replacing Marlon Brando. He later appeared in like films such as “Athena”, “The Prodigal” and “The King's Thief”. At this point his career began to lose steam so he re-located to Rome where he spent the rest of his life. He began to appear in 'Sword and Sandal' films and later westerns such as “The Last Ride to Santa Cruz” and “Shoot to Kill” both 1963. “Charge of the Seventh” (1964), “Gun Shy Piluk” and “A Wreath for the Bandits” both 1968. He then became a voice dubber for Italian films into English. He was married to actresses Anita Phillips (1954-1962), Linda Christian (1962-1963) and is the father of journalist Lilan Purdom. Purdom passed away on January 1, 2009 of heart failure in Rome. We remember Edmond Purdom today on what would have been his 85th birthday.

Born Alberto Zoboli on December 19, 1924 in Genoa, Italy. He began his acting career as a theater actor in 1946 and continued until 1952, when he became a fan favorite on TV especially with the females. His deep voice and seductive looks were perfect for romantic roles on both the TV screens and in films. He would appear in over fifty films among which were three Eurowesterns, two being Zorro films, “Zorro in the Court of Spain” (1962) and “Zorro the Intrepid” (1971). The third being “Django Shoots First” (1966). He suffered a cerebral thrombosis and was in a coma for along period of time before finally recovering. Lupo was married at one time to actress Lila Rocco and is the father of actress Eliana Lupo. Alberto died on August 13, 1984 in San Felice Circeo, Italy. Today we remember him on what would have been his 85th birthday.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Born Giorgio Ardisson on December 31, 1931 in Rocco Canavese, Turin, Italy he acted under the names George Ardisson and Georges Ardison. Ardisson appeared in over 50 films during his career among them a half-dozen Eurowesterns. George specialized in action films, especially spy films and is somtimes referred to as the Italian James Bond. His film career began with his appearance in the 1959 film “Arrangiatevi! directed by Mauro Bologninis. He then made appearances in sword and sandal and action films. He appeared in the early Eurowestern “Massacre at the Grand Canyon” as villain Tully Dancer. Even though he starred or co-starred in the Eurowesterns he made he somehow lacked the charisma of other leading men. He was blonde, handsome and athletic but even with all of this it didn't catapult him to fame. By the mid-1970s he looke out of place while appearing in sex comedies and ended his career playing in several horror films until his last film appearance in 1992's “Shadow Warriors” directed by Max Ferro. [Update] Giorgio Ardisson died December 11, 2014 at his home in Ceveteri, Italy of a longtime respiratory ailment.

A five-person team of gold prospectors venture to the Yukon in search of gold, and have just begun to find success when suddenly a dispute arises and one of the members kills two of the others. The two survivors of the attack, a husband and wife, subdue the killer but are now faced with a dilemma. With no opportunity of turning him over to the lawful authorities for many weeks they must decide whether to exact justice and punishment themselves or to try keeping him restrained until they can return him to civilization.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Liv Johanne Ullmann was born December 16, 1938 in Tokyo, Japan. She is a Nrwegian actress and film director, as well as one of the muses of Swedish director Ingmar Bergman. She's won a Golden Globe Award, and has also been nominated for both the Palme d'Or and twice for an Oscar and BAFTA Award. She appeared in nine films for Ingmar Bergman and “Scenes from a Marriage” made her an icon in the 1970s feminist movement. Liv appeared in two Eurowesterns “The Emigrants” 1970 and “The New Land” (1972) playing Kristina in the on going adventures of a Swedish farm family who settle in the West. Today we celebrate Liv Ullmann's 70th birthday

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Val Avery, whose craggy features and threatening aura ensured him nearly 50 years of work playing tough guys on both sides of the law in dozens of television series and films like "Hud," "Hombre" and several directed by John Cassavetes, died Saturday, December 12 at his home in Greenwich Village. He was 85. The death was confirmed by his daughter, Margot Avery.

Mr. Avery, who started out in live television and broke into film in "The Harder They Fall" (1956), Humphrey Bogart's last movie, found a rewarding niche playing cops, thugs, Mafia kingpins and mean bosses, although in "The Magnificent Seven," John Sturges's classic 1960 western, he appeared as a traveling corset salesman. Mr. Avery played the Mafia psychopath Socks Parelli in the Sidney Lumet caper film "The Anderson Tapes" (1971) and the Mafia godfather who cuts off Eric Roberts's thumb in "The Pope of Greenwich Village" (1984). He also made frequent guest appearances on "The Fugitive," "Gunsmoke," "Columbo" and other television series. In all, he made more than a hundred films and appeared on television more than 300 times in series and dramas. "In the early years, there were times when it was rough, times when I thought of packing it in, and then a job would open up," he told The Daily News in 1999. "And it would lead to another and another and another, until I had a career and a life."

Mr. Avery was born Sebouh Der Abrahamian on July 14, 1924, in Philadelphia. He acted in productions of the Armenian Youth Theater and, after serving as an Army flight instructor during World War II, enrolled in the Bessie V. Hicks School of Drama in Philadelphia. In 1953, he married the actress Margot Stevenson, who survives him, along with their daughter.

Val Avery ppeared as the judge in the 2002 Euro-western “Blueberry” (aka Renegade)

Alex Cox was born on December 15, 1954. He was working on a law degree at Oxford when he left to pursue a film career at UCLA. In 1984 Cox wrote the screenplay for “Repo Man”, which he hoped to produce for a budget of $70,000. While seeking this funding, he met ex-Monkee Michael Nesmith, who agreed to produce the film, and convinced Universal Studios to back the project with a budget greatly increased to over a million dollars. During the course of the film's production, management changed, and new management had far less faith in the project. The initial theatrical release was limited to Chicago, followed by Los Angeles, and was short lived. After the success of the soundtrack album (notable for featuring many popular LA punk bands), there was enough interest in the film to earn a re-release in a single theater in New York City. This ran for 18 months and eventually earned $4,000,000, despite arriving after the movie was already on video and cable. He has been influenced by such well known directors as Sergio Leone, Luis Bunuel, Akira Kurosawa, Sam Peckinpah and John Ford. One of his better known films was “Walker” (1987). Carrying a love for the Spaghetti Western genre since high school he made “Straight to Hell” (1987) and wrote a history on the genre called 10,000 Ways to Die. Today we celebrate his 55th birthday.

Hermann Haller was born on December 15, 1909 in Zurich, Switzerland. He began at the early age of 14 as a film critic and then went to work for the Emelka Film Corporation. At the ripe old age of 20 he becmae a film editor on the silent film “Die weiße Hölle vom Piz Palü” (1929). In 1936 he fled the Nazi controlled film industry and went to Austria where he worked primarily with director Geza von Bolváry. In 1938 with the spread of the Nazis he returned to Switzwerland where he found work as a director. After the war he returned to the German film industry and was instrumental in the success of most of the Karl May and Edgar Wallace films during the 1960s. Haller retired in 1981 and passed away on June 21, 1985 in Boswil, Switzerland. Today we remember Hermann Haller on what would have been his 100th birthday.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Stocker Fontelieu, the New Orleans theater legend whose 60-year career included a stint as executive director of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre and directing and acting roles at numerous local theatres, died Monday, December 14. He was 86. Mr. Fontelieu’s health had been failing in recent months, after suffering a fall. He was receiving care at Covenant Nursing Home, where he died. A New Orleans native who attended New Orleans Academy and Tulane University, Mr. Fontelieu was best known for his 24-year career as executive director of Le Petit, which spanned from the 1960s through the 1980s.

Born in New Orleans on May 5, 1923 he was a frequent commercial and movie actor, Mr. Fontelieu’s face and voice were familiar to New Orleanians from TV and film roles as an actor and announcer, even if his name was not. But it is his direction behind the scenes for which friends and colleagues remember him most fondly.By the time he retired in 2006, Mr. Fontelieu had appeared in nearly 150 plays and directed 340 productions, at various local theatres, including Gallery Circle Theatre (where he served as executive director), Bayou Dinner Theater and Rivertown Repertory Theater.

Stocker Fontelieu appeared as a longshoreman in "My Name is Nobody" (1973) and the French/American co-produced TV movie "Louisiana" as an acutioneer.

The location for the prison used in “For a Few Dollars More” is located directly across the street from the location to the entrance driveway to Mini Hollywood. You can still find pieces of wood, nails and the fake stuco used for the walls. See the scene below and the photo above and you can line up the where the cells were located. The gangs exit a stairway that actually went down the side of a plateau where the set was constructed.

She was born Alessandra Panero on December 14, 1939 in Rome, Italy. We know her by her alias Topsy Collins. Her first appearance was in 1954's “Il barcaiolo Amalfi” directed by Mino Roli. She would go on to make over 35 films before her reitrment in 1976. Her most famous role was as the beautiful virgin Princess Medea, love interest to Gordon Scott's heroic Prince Glaucus, in “Hercules vs The Molock” (1963). During her career she made three Eurowesterns “Treasure of the Aztecs” and “Pyramid of the Sun Gods” with Lex Barker both in 1965 and “30 Winchesters for El Diablo” (1966) with Carl Möhner using her alias Topsy Collins. Today we celebrate Alessandra Panero's 70th birthday.

A gang of outlaws led by Billy Gunn steal a large amount of U.S. Army gold and kill several soldiers in the process. Captain Clive Norton is assigned to track down Gunn and retrieve the stolen gold. Norton wants and needs the help of convicted criminal Chaleco who knows Gunn's habits and tricks. The problem is that the convict is about to be executed. Norton arranges for the scaffold to be blown to bits and the pair escape. The army has closed it's eyes to the rescue to allow the Norton's plan a chance to work. Both men are now on the trail of Norton for different reasons one to retrieve the stolen gold and the other out of hatred for the outlaw. They must come to terms and work with each other if the they are to succeed. Problems arise when they run into a band of Mexican thugs led by Cordero who is also after the gold. Norton also has to put up with Chaleco's pension for pursuing Gunn on his own and leaving Norton behind.

Born Guido Mannari on December 13, 1944 in Rsignano Marittimo, Tuscany, he was a very good looking, athletic actor. He debuted on screen in 1969 chosen by Mauro Bolognini for a scene in “L'assoluto naturale” (aka “She and He”) as a mechanic. At this time Mannari was playing soccer for his local team but not good enough to become a professional he turned to acting. He moved to Rome and became a model and actor. Directors and producers saw in him the possiblity of becoming a teenage idol. He appeared in the films of Pasolini, Jacques Deray and Tinto Brass. Instead of becoming a star he becomes an attractive character actor. His biggest roles was in Mario Amendola's “Storia de fratelli e de cortelli” (1974) as Gigi. He appeared in three Eurowesterns; “Blindman”, “The Brothers Blue” and “Red Coat”. He ends up making only 14 films and then returns to his home town where he died on August 10, 1988 only 44 years-old. We remember him today on what would have been his 65th birthday.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

This longtime Spanish character actor was born Venancio Deus Mejuto on December 12, 1919 in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. He began as a journalist and first appeared in films in the late 1940s. He appeared in over a dozen Eurowesterns made in Spain and acted under the names Ben Deter, Beni Deus and Beny Deus. Some of the his better known roles were as Burton Carroll in “Gunmen of the Rio grande (1964) with Guy Madison, O'Brien in “Finger on Trigger” with Rory Calhoun, and McKinley in 1967's “Clint the Loner” with George Martin. He continued acting in films and on television until the early 1980s. Beny died in Madrid, Spain on March 16, 1989. We remember him today on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

French rock icon Johnny Hallyday is in a medically induced coma at a U.S. hospital as a result of an operation gone bad in France, according to the singer's handlers.

Music producer Jean-Claude Camus said the 66-year-old singer is expected to recover from surgery to fix the damage. Camus told France's TF1 television on Friday that Hallyday was put in a coma "so he won't suffer. The news is very positive, he's very strong," said the rocker's son David Hallyday on France-Info radio as he arrived Friday at the hospital in Los Angeles where his father is recuperating.

Hallyday checked himself into Cedars Sinai to fix back problems that stemmed from a Nov. 26 surgery in Paris for a herniated disc.

According to a release from Hallyday's publicist, lesions from the first operation required more surgery and the singer had also suffered an infection. Camus told France-Info radio that the American medical team discovered the infection was attacking the singer's bone marrow. He went on to say: "It seems the Americans fixed things that they found that were very badly done." The remarks have not gone unnoticed by Dr. Stephane Delajoux, the French surgeon who first operated on Hallyday. Delajoux released a statement saying the initial surgery had "taken place perfectly."

Hallyday's predicament has caused an uproar in France, with President Nicolas Sarkozy expressing how most of his countrymen feel. "It provokes great emotion in France because he's a much-loved man and, for each of us, he represents a bit of our personal history: memories, feelings, songs, music," he said. Delajoux has found himself under attack, verbally and physically. Police in Paris are investigating an alleged assault Friday on the doctor as he left a friend's home. Delajoux contends a masked man attacked him, while another stood by making sure no one saw the beating.

Meanwhile, the singer's lawyer, Virginie Lappe, has stated her client is not ruling out the possibility of legal action.

Hallyday had been on a multi-city farewell tour in France called "Route 66." The performer, whose real name is Jean-Philippe Smet, made it big in France during the 1960s and 1970s with his American-inspired rock. He is considered by many to be France's Elvis Presley, with more than 100 million albums sold and 18 platinum albums.

Railroad men become ruthless when taking over a rancher’s land. The purchase of farms that occupy land through which the new railroad is going to run causes diverse problems. Also, within that land is a gold mine which causes more disputes when a gold miner wants to give as a present a half interest to the father of his dead partner but soon realizes the man is an outlaw so he joins those opposed to him

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Born Stojan Arandjelovic on June 12, 1930 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia he became one of the greatest character actors in Yugoslavian film history. He first appeared on film in 1950 and his career would continue until 1993. He often appeared under his nickname Stole Arandjelovic and made more than 120 film and TV appearances in his more than 40 year career. When the Karl May Films began using Yugoslavia for their settings his talents were called upon and he became a villain in three of the Winnetou movies. In 1983 he received a lifetime achievement award for his roles in Yugoslavian films. Stojan died in Blegrade on April 8, 1993.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Warren Vanderschuit, 79, a character actor who appeared in the John Wayne film "Rooster Cogburn" and dozens of TV westerns and who had an impressive athletic career as a young man in Los Angeles, died November 27 at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena after battling lung cancer, his family said. Using the stage name Warren Vanders and often playing villains, he had numerous roles in TV westerns, including "Empire" (as Chuck Davis), "The Big Valley," "Bonanza," "Daniel Boone," "Alias Smith and Jones," "Gunsmoke," "Kung Fu," "Nevada Smith" and "How the West Was Won," as well as the big-screen western "Hot Lead and Cold Feet" and others.

Born Warren John Vanderschuit in San Fernando, California on May 23, 1930, he served in the Navy during the Korean War and boxed for Navy teams. After the war he continued boxing in the Golden Gloves program, capturing the 1954 Southern California light-heavyweight title in a tournament at the Hollywood Legion Stadium sponsored by The Times.

He also was a standout quarterback for what was then Pepperdine College from 1954 to 1956. Meanwhile, he was studying drama, and when injuries ended his football prospects he turned to acting in film, TV and on stage, as well as to teaching in local schools.

Vanders made one Euro-Western "The Price of Power" with Giuliano Gemma playing the part of Arthur McDonald

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.